Definition
Domain Rating (DR) is a metric developed by Ahrefs that measures the overall strength of a domain's link profile. It takes into account the number of unique referring domains pointing to the site and the strength of those domains. The scale is logarithmic, meaning it is much easier to go from DR 10 to DR 20 than from DR 70 to DR 80. DR is widely used in the SEO industry to quickly evaluate a site's authority, compare competitors, and estimate how difficult it would be to outrank them in search results.
Key Points
- Logarithmic scale: each additional point is exponentially harder to achieve
- Based on the number and quality of unique referring domains
- The most widely used Ahrefs metric for comparing site authority
Practical Examples
Link building prospecting
An SEO consultant filters sites on LemmiLink, selecting only those with a DR above 40 to guarantee backlinks from authoritative domains for their clients.
Industry benchmark
A small construction business analyzes the average DR of its top 10 competitors for its main keyword (average DR 28) and sets a target of DR 35 to outperform them in the medium term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Domain Rating (DR) is an Ahrefs metric while Domain Authority (DA) is a Moz metric. Although similar in purpose, they use different algorithms and databases. DR focuses on backlinks while DA integrates other factors. Neither is an official Google ranking factor.
There is no universal DR target. The goal depends on your industry: in a low-competition niche, a DR of 20-30 may suffice, while in competitive e-commerce, you should aim for DR 50+. Always analyze your direct competitors' DR to set a relevant target.
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Last updated: 2026-02-07